Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-06-09
Charles summers Kindness.

Charles Summers Kindness.
"Do | remember Andrew j. Rob
ertso" quoth an old State politician.
Yes. He had checkered career,
poor man. But with all his short
comings he was bright, indeed a
brilliant man.
"He was great politician years ago,
and not only took extraordinary inter
est in the great questions of the day,
but knew intimately all the prominent
public men. He was well read, intel
ligent and good talker, but he had
failing He could not be depended
upon, and at times was helpless.
ale used to hang around the State
Republican headquarters from morn
ing until night throughout the cam
paign, and campaigns lasted in those
days nearly five months.
1T was during the anti-slayery days
when everybody was at the highest
pitch Of excitement. | remember one
day in particular, when a number of
prominent politicians were assembled
at headquarters, among them Charles
Sumner and Henry Wilson.
sumner was in the rear room, Will
son in front. In walked Roberts. He
talked in n loud voice and disturbed
the whole assembly.
stepping into the rear room, he
spied Sumner in earnest conversation
with u friend. Giving him a tremen-
dous slap on the shoulder, he
shouted:
D you, Sumner; how are you?
Why don't you be as hearty and as
genial as your friend Wilson?
The effect of this rough handling
on Sumner can readily be imagined
by those who remember or have read
Of the dignifed and scholarly man.
II was not only a shock, but an insult.
Sumner turned as white as a sheet,
but said nothing. He realized Rob
erts' condition and wisely held his
peace. Roberts was severely repri-
manded and turned out of the room.
at was not long after this that Rob
crts came to want and grief. He was
actually destitute He looked hungry
and was poorly clad In despair he
came to me one day for work or adj
vAcc The big tears rolled down his
cheek as he told me how destitute and
degraded he was, and how he louged
to reform told him / had no work,
and advised him to 90 TO sumner.
Go TO Sumner?' he said oh, no.
! msutcd sumner, a short time ago.
| can't 90.
' Yes you can, | said Go to him
just ms you have come to me. Tel him
frankly the whole story, and he Will
help you.
Roberts did as l advised About
10 o'clock the next morning he but
toned his shabby coat around his neck
to hide his flannel shirt, and made his
way to the man he had so grossly in
suited but a short time before
Summer, it is well known, was a
late riser, and seldom breakfasted be-
fore II o'clock. He received the UNI
fortunate man kindly. and, inviting
him to breakfast, listened patiently to
his story. Roberts told me aftcrward
that it was the first square meal that
he had eaten in long time.
'In less than two days Roberts was
given position in the navy yard, and
honccforth was different man. When
he told me later his experience with
sumner that morning, his eyes filled
with tears and his voice trembled with
emotion. 1t was magnanimous act
on the part of Sumner, and an out
ward expression OF his true char
actor.
1T was the turning point in Rob
erts' career. Only u few months ago
he delivered one of the best temper
ance speeches | over heard in my life
Up to the day of his death, which oc-
cured quite recently. he had great
vencration for the memory Of sum
ner the man who wa, So Kind and
generous to him in trouble. Boston
Record